Darkfield Microscopy
3,4
The standard brightfield microscope may be equipped for darkfield examination by replacing the
brightfield, or Abbe, condenser with either a double- or single-reflecting darkfield condenser.
Illumination for darkfield microscopy is obtained when light rays strike the object in the field at an
oblique angle so that no direct light rays enter the microscope objective, only the rays reflected
from the object. Therefore, the object appears self-luminous against a dark background. When a
fluid containing particles, including bacteria or treponemes, is placed on a slide, the oblique rays
are reflected from the surfaces upward into the barrel of the microscope; these particles appear
brightly illuminated against a black background. This type of illumination can be obtained by using
a double-reflecting darkfield condenser (Fig 4:1) or a single-reflecting darkfield condenser (Fig
4:2). In the double-reflecting darkfield condenser, two reflecting surfaces produce intense
illumination; however, this type of condenser requires precise focusing and accurate centering.

Drs. Mysterud and Laane - How does your approach to testing and findings differ from the published blood analysis research that has been done for Borrelia to date?

Our method differs from others in its simplicity and low costs. The needs for fast and simple methods are overwhelming, as DNA or immune methods, unfortunately, meet many unexpected technical problems, and often fail.

Our method is based upon live blood microscopy. Bacteria become visible by optical changes involving refraction index, swelling and spreading of cells, which result in inflated structures well above the optical resolution capacities for a light microscope. Phase-contrast microscopy is used. The main trick is spreading the red blood cells apart in an anoxic salt solution so that even very thin bacteria become visible against the diluted blood plasma. The method is useful not only for spirochetes, but also other bacteria, apicomplex parasites, microfilaria, fungi, etc.

Only specialized laboratories can adequately diagnose Babesia infection in humans, and as a result, Babesia infections are considered highly under-reported. It develops in patients who live in or travel to an endemic area or receive a contaminated blood transfusion within the preceding 9 weeks, so this aspect of the medical history is vital.[6] Babesiosis may be suspected when a person with such an exposure history develops persistent fevers and hemolytic anemia. The definitive diagnostic test is the identification of parasites on a Giemsa-stained thin blood smear.[6]

The aim of these pages is to be a guide on how to set-up a microscope capable of observing spirochetes. It is intended for beginners, or intermediates who have not used darkfield and/or maximum magnification set-ups.

Microscopic visualization of live Borrelia spirochetes offers the strongest of all proofs that an infection is present. Borrelia burgdorferi can be visualized directly in infected vectors, reservoir hosts, laboratory animals and clinical specimens from patients with LB using dark-field or phase-contrast microscopy.

If you have any questions about this do not ask me, I'm not involved at all in this.

Edit to add:

A translated quote (from the Swedish text):

"Lyme Wars" - "Chronic Borreliosis" - "Residual Symptoms" mentioned frequently
There is no patient who wants war. Anyone who is sick wants to be healthy. A stronger motivation is hardly needed. Some believe that "chronic borreliosis" also includes residual symptoms and others argue that chronic borreliosis actually only consists of few criteria that the Public Health Agency set up.